Delivery of dental materials

ABSTRACT

A delivery system ( 10 ) includes a tube ( 11 ) having a central passageway ( 12 ) and a dispensing orifice ( 22 ) and a venting orifice ( 23, 50 ). An amount of the material to be dispensed is drawn into the central passageway ( 12 ), after which the venting orifice ( 23, 50 ) is closed off, causing the material within the central passageway ( 12 ) to remain due to unequal pressures between the central passageway ( 12 ) and the atmosphere, until the venting orifice ( 23, 50 ) is again uncovered. A squeeze pump ( 40 ) may be positioned between the dispensing orifice ( 22 ) and the dispensing orifice ( 23 ) to be pinched, thereby drawing liquid into or dispensing liquid from the central passageway ( 12 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to the delivery of relatively small amounts of materials, particularly, dental materials. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of a delivery tube for the delivery of such materials to precise locations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The delivery of dental materials such as adhesives, pit and fissure sealants and the like, requires specialized practices and equipment. Such materials are often affected by light, temperature or the like, and hence, are often stored in small bottles made of dark glass. While this method of storage is useful, it also requires some technique to remove the material from the bottles and to deliver the material to is intended target, namely, the dentition.

[0003] Because of the small amounts of the materials required, it is difficult to provide a delivery system that not only provides enough material, but which does not result in wasting too much of the material. For example, with dental adhesives, several layers of the material are often required. Some dental practitioners use a brush dipped into the adhesive bottle to remove some of the material and then to “paint” it onto the target. This may work, but it is sometimes difficult to get enough material onto the brush. Further, repeated dipping into the bottle requires multiple brushes so as to avoid cross contamination.

[0004] Some delivery systems are known which include a mechanical dispensing syringe. While these devices also work, they are rather expensive, and when compared to a simple brush, they are difficult and time consuming to operate. Further still, unless they are packaged in pre-filled, one-time use (unit dose) manner, they are also subject to cross contamination between patients. Unit dose syringes, because of their relatively complicated design, also greatly increase costs involved with the procedure.

[0005] A need exists therefore, for a delivery system for a flowable or liquid material, such as a dental adhesive or sealant, which is as easy to operate as a simple brush, and yet avoids the mechanical complications and time consuming requirements of syringe dispensers.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore, an object of the invention to provide a delivery system for a flowable or liquid material.

[0007] It is another object of the invention to provide such a system particularly adaptable for the delivery of dental materials.

[0008] It is a further object of the invention to provide a delivery system as above which is simple to operate and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

[0009] These and other objects of the invention, which will become apparent from the following description, are carried out by the invention as now described.

[0010] In general, a delivery system for a liquid includes a plastic or glass tube having a central passage longitudinally theretrough, preferably, axially.

[0011] In another embodiment of the invention, a resilient squeeze pump is positioned at some point along the longitudinal length of the tube, which can be employed to create suction at one end of the tube to thereby draw liquid into the tube.

[0012] In a still further embodiment, the tube is clear and is made from a flexible plastic material.

[0013] In an additional embodiment, a secondary relief orifice is provided to vent the central passage to the atmosphere.

[0014] A dental material delivery kit includes a reservoir or container of a liquid dental material to be delivered. The kit also includes a tube as above, which can be employed to transfer a desired quantity of the material to a target site and to dispense the material at that site. Further, the tube is configured to hold about as much material as required for a given dental procedure, thereby eliminating the need to remove the material from its reservoir or container more than once.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a delivery system according to the present invention, showing an inner, central passageway in phantom lines.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a delivery system according to the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a still further alternative embodiment of a delivery system according to the present invention, showing a secondary orifice and part of a central passageway in phantom lines.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of another alternative embodiment of a delivery system according to the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 5 is an end view of the device of FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0020] A delivery system according to the present invention is shown by way of example by the number 10 on the attached drawings. Delivery system 10 may be used to transport and deliver any liquid or flowable material. For example, delivery system 10 is particularly suited for removing an amount of a dental material, such as an adhesive or sealant, from a reservoir or bottle (not shown) and to deliver a desired amount of the material to a target site, such as a tooth (not shown). Although delivery system 10 can be employed with any material, these include for example, PRIME & BOND® adhesive and DELTON® pit and fissure sealants available from DENTSPLY International Inc. of York, Pa.

[0021] In the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 1, delivery system 10 includes a tube 11 having a central passageway 12 therethrough. Preferably, central passageway 12 is longitudinally and axially positioned within tube 11, although this is not required. Further, multiple passageways 12 (not shown) are also within the scope of the invention.

[0022] Passageway 12 also preferably extends from a dispensing end 20 to an opposite, venting end 21 (FIG. 1). Passageway 12 therefore, extends from an inlet orifice 22 proximate to dispensing end 20, to a venting orifice 23 (FIG. 5) proximate to venting end 21. By “venting” it is meant that the orifice opens to the atmosphere. Hence, central passageway 12 opens to the atmosphere through venting orifice 23.

[0023] Tube 11 may be fabricated from any material such as plastic or glass. However, it is preferred to fabricate tube 11 from a clear, flexible plastic material, such as that used to fabricate the SaniTip® air/water syringe tip, also available from DENTSPLY International Inc. Tube 11 may also be of any length or size, and may include a central passageway 12 of any dimension, depending upon the needs of the end use. Further, when tube 11 is fabricated from a flexible material, the shape of tube 11 may be changed by flexing, thereby allowing improved access to confined areas.

[0024] In use, tube 11 is grasped in the hand of a user, such that the user can manipulate tube 11 and at the same time, selectively place a finger (not shown) over venting orifice 23 to thereby selectively close venting orifice 23. Without closing off venting orifice 23, tube 11 is inserted dispensing end 20 first, into a reservoir of the material to be dispensed (not shown) until a desired quantity of the material flows through dispensing orifice 22 and into central passageway 12. Material may flow into central passageway 12 by capillary action or the like. The determination of the amount of material is facilitated when tube 11 is clear, allowing the operator to visually inspect central passageway 12. Gradient marks 30 may be placed upon tube 11 to further facilitate the determination of the amount of material thereby taken up into central passageway 12.

[0025] Before removing tube 11 from the material reservoir, venting orifice 23 is closed off, preferably by the aforementioned use of the operator's finger, or by any other means. When tube 11 is then withdrawn from the material reservoir, atmospheric pressure will cause the material to remain within central passageway 12, regardless of the orientation of tube 11. Tube 11 can then be moved to the target site and an amount of the material allowed to flow from central passageway 12 through dispensing orifice 22 by momentarily and/or partially uncovering venting end 23, causing pressure within central passageway 12 to again equal atmospheric. Material within central passageway may then flow under the influence of gravity or the like. To further facilitate the application of the material thereby dispensed from tube 11, a brush 31 may be provided proximate to dispensing end 20. Brush 31 can be used to direct and control the material flowing from dispensing orifice 22.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2, a deformable, rubber-like or resilient squeeze pump 40 is provided at some point along the longitudinal length of tube 11, preferably between dispensing end 20 and venting end 21. In use, an operator can squeeze or deform pump 40, thereby reducing its internal volume. When released, and the volume returns to the pre-deformed size, suction is induced through central passageway 12, thereby inducing material to flow into central passageway 12 through dispensing orifice 22. When pump 40 is again squeezed, thereby again reducing its internal volume, material in central passageway 12 is forced out of central passageway 12 through dispensing orifice 22, and is thereby dispensed.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, a secondary venting orifice 50 may be provided in addition to or in the alternative to venting orifice 23, at any other location, but which also vents central passageway 12 to the atmosphere. In the embodiment of the secondary venting orifice 50 shown in FIG. 3, secondary venting orifice is placed in the sidewall of tube 11 at a location proximate to dispensing end 20.

[0028] A dental material delivery kit includes a reservoir or container (not shown) of a liquid dental material to be delivered. The kit also includes a delivery system 10 as above, which can be employed to transfer a desired quantity of the material to a target site and to dispense the material at that site. Further, delivery system 10 is configured to hold about as much material as required for a given dental procedure, thereby eliminating the need to remove the material from its reservoir or container more than once. That is, enough material can be drawn into central passageway 12 to facilitate several applications of the material to a target site, thereby eliminating the need to remove additional material from the original reservoir.

[0029] A still further embodiment of the invention employs a squeeze bulb 60 (FIG. 4) to draw into and dispense material from tube 11.

[0030] It should now be apparent that the present invention provides a delivery system for a liquid or flowable material, such as a dental material, and otherwise meets the objectives of the invention as set forth. All variations of the invention have not been described or depicted, but are within the scope of the invention as will be readily appreciated by one of skill in the art. Similarly, the drawings provided are exemplary only and do not show all variations of the invention that are possible and that are within the scope of this invention. 

In the claims:
 1. A delivery device for a liquid comprises a plastic or glass tube having a central passage longitudinally therethrough and open first and second ends such that said central passageway extends between and fluidly communicates with each said first and said second passageway.
 2. A delivery device as in claim 1, further comprising a resilient, manually actuatable pump positioned between said first and said second ends, such that a user may selectively squeeze and release said pump to draw into or expel liquid from said central passage.
 3. A delivery device as in claim 1, further comprising a brush positioned proximate to said second end of said tube, said brush being at least partially exposed on the exterior of said tube.
 4. A delivery device as in claim 1, wherein said tube is transparent.
 5. A delivery device as in claim 1, wherein said tube is fabricated from a flexible, plastic material.
 6. A delivery device as in claim 1, further comprising a secondary relief orifice in said tube, fluidly communicating with said central passageway and the atmosphere. 